M&A Launchpad How R&D Tax Credits Impact Acquisitions with Bob Stabell
In this episode of the M&A Launchpad Podcast, hosts Casey Minshew and Ben Suttles sit down with Bob Stabell of Think Tax Strategies to discuss how R&D tax credits, revitalized and expanded under the One Big Beautiful Bill, are creating real leverage for business buyers. Bob breaks down what qualifies today, how credits can be accessed retroactively in certain situations, and why these incentives matter far beyond traditional manufacturing or technology companies.
This conversation is especially relevant for buyers navigating acquisitions in the lower and middle market, where tax strategy can materially impact deal economics, post-close cash flow, and negotiations with sellers.
- How R&D tax credits actually work and why they differ from deductions
- What types of businesses qualify today, including service and field-based companies
- How buyers use credits as negotiation and cash-flow tools in acquisitions
- What the process looks like and how Bob’s team supports CPAs and buyers
Bob Stabell
Think Tax Strategies
Website: thinktaxstrategies.com
Email: robert@thinktaxstrategies.com
Sponsored by O’Connell Advisory Group – Work with a trusted Quality of Earnings and Financial Diligence partner who focuses solely on business acquisitions.
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00:00 – M&A Launchpad Conference invitation + code LAUNCH for $150 off
00:57 – Introducing Bob Stabell and the opportunity created by the “Big Beautiful Bill”
02:28 – Bob’s background: 30+ years in tax incentives and R&D credits
04:12 – “It’s not what you make, it’s what you keep”: why buyers should care
04:26 – What changed under the Big Beautiful Bill (retroactive access and timing)
06:16 – R&D credit history and how “new to you” expanded eligibility
07:30 – Credit vs. deduction: why the math works differently
09:09 – Superseding returns vs. amendments and how refunds get processed faster
10:10 – Service business examples: how companies qualify without “creating widgets”
11:24 – Field fixes and prototypes: what counts as qualified activity
12:38 – What you need to provide (tax returns, payroll, financials) and what the team does
13:03 – Real-world results: six-figure credits and how they carry forward
14:10 – Acquisition structure, stub years, and how credits create negotiation leverage
15:40 – Ongoing benefit: lowering quarterly tax payments and improving cash flow
18:34 – Audit defense and why the technical report matters
20:48 – Other strategies buyers miss: cost segregation, 179D, and “out of matrix” review
22:14 – How big is this program? Budget growth and who benefits most
24:57 – How Bob works with CPAs to get filings done correctly
28:21 – Fees and billing: retainer + percentage of credits collected (typical ROI framing)
31:07 – Is it permanent? How the credit became part of the tax code long-term
32:54 – How to reach Bob for a quick fit-check call
33:18 – Rocket Round